Computerized data terminal with switchable memory address for start-up and system control instructions
First Claim
1. Microprocessor controlled apparatus comprising:
- a microprocessor device and a microprocessor operating circuit, the microprocessor device communicatively coupled into the microprocessor operating circuit;
reprogrammable memory coupled into the microprocessor operating circuit to communicatively interact with the microprocessor device, the reprogrammable memory containing a plurality of addressable memory locations;
means for addressing designated ones of the memory locations of the reprogrammable memory for start-up operations of the microprocessor;
means for selectively coupling additional memory locations into the microprocessor operating circuit to communicatively interact with the microprocessor device;
means for substituting designated ones of the additional memory locations for the designated ones of the reprogrammable memory to be addressed by the addressing means for start-up operations of the microprocessor; and
means for reversing the addresses of the designated ones of the memory locations of the reprogrammable memory having start-up operations of the microprocessor and the addresses of the additional memory locations having the start-up operations of the microprocessor.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A microprocessor circuit of a computerized data collection terminal includes the microprocessor and reprogrammable flash read only memory at memory address locations from which normally start-up and control instructions would be retrieved. A connector port is coupled to the microprocessor circuit through which additional memory, for example in the form of a memory card, may be temporarily and removably coupled into the circuit. A special purpose memory card includes start-up and control instructions to start and operate the microprocessor. The data collection terminal includes a special switch which, when activated, causes the rerouting of start-up code requests by the microprocessor from the memory locations of the reprogrammable flash memory to locations on the special purpose memory card. The special purpose memory card also contains program instructions for copying the microprocessor start-up and system control instructions from the special purpose memory card to the memory locations of the reprogrammable flash memory of the microprocessor circuit of the terminal. Switching the address of start-up and control code from the internal memory locations to the externally supplied memory locations allows the data collection terminal to be manufactured and assembled and to be programmed for a specific purpose after assembly.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. Microprocessor controlled apparatus comprising:
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a microprocessor device and a microprocessor operating circuit, the microprocessor device communicatively coupled into the microprocessor operating circuit; reprogrammable memory coupled into the microprocessor operating circuit to communicatively interact with the microprocessor device, the reprogrammable memory containing a plurality of addressable memory locations; means for addressing designated ones of the memory locations of the reprogrammable memory for start-up operations of the microprocessor; means for selectively coupling additional memory locations into the microprocessor operating circuit to communicatively interact with the microprocessor device; means for substituting designated ones of the additional memory locations for the designated ones of the reprogrammable memory to be addressed by the addressing means for start-up operations of the microprocessor; and means for reversing the addresses of the designated ones of the memory locations of the reprogrammable memory having start-up operations of the microprocessor and the addresses of the additional memory locations having the start-up operations of the microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Computerized data terminal apparatus comprising:
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a microprocessor circuit including a microprocessor and memory means interactively coupled for providing a plurality of memory locations to be addressed by the microprocessor while operating, the memory means comprising reprogrammable memory locations coupled to be initially addressed by the microprocessor on initial start-up, and thereby adapted to contain microprocessor start-up instructions; means for replaceably coupling additional memory means to the microprocessor circuit, the additional memory means including a second plurality of memory locations to be addressed by the microprocessor while operating, the additional memory means including predetermined memory locations containing substitute microprocessor start-Up and control instructions; means for selectively coupling the microprocessor to address the substitute microprocessor start-UP and control instructions in lieu of the reprogrammable memory locations to be initially addressed when the means for replaceably coupling has coupled the additional memory means to the microprocessor circuit; and means for reversing the addresses of the reprogrammable memory locations to be initially addressed and the addresses of the substitute microprocessor start-up and control instructions. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of programming a computerized data terminal with microprocessor start-up and control instructions, comprising:
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coupling an external memory source to a microprocessor circuit including a microprocessor and addressable reprogrammable read only memory, the external memory source including start-up and control instructions for the microprocessor circuit; switching the address routing from the addressable reprogrammable read only memory to the external memory source; operating the microprocessor circuit under the control of the start-up and control instructions of the external memory source; and reversing the addresses of any microprocessor start-up and control instructions of the reprogrammable read only memory of the microprocessor circuit add the addresses of the start-up and control instructions of the external memory source. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. Microprocessor controlled apparatus comprising:
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a microprocessor device and a microprocessor operating circuit, the microprocessor device communicatively coupled into the microprocessor operating circuit; reprogrammable memory coupled into the microprocessor operating circuit to communicatively interact with the microprocessor device, the reprogrammable memory containing a plurality of addressable memory locations; means for addressing designated ones of the memory locations of the reprogrammable memory for start-up operations of the microprocessor; means for selectively coupling additional memory locations into the microprocessor operating circuit to communicatively interact with the microprocessor device; and means for substituting designated ones of the additional memory locations for the designated ones of the reprogrammable memory to be addressed by the addressing means for start-up operations of the microprocessor; wherein the means for selectively coupling additional memory locations into the microprocessor operating circuit comprises a memory card port including a memory card connector coupled to the memory operating circuit, and wherein the means for substituting the designated ones of the additional memory locations comprises switch means including sensing means for indicating the presence of a special purpose memory card in the memory card port and an electrical switching circuit responsive to input signals from the sensing means indicating the presence of a special purpose memory card in the memory card port, the electrical switching circuit coupled to the addressing means for selectively addressing the designated ones of the additional memory locations instead of the designated ones of the reprogrammable memory; and wherein the switch means comprises means for reversing the addresses of the memory locations of the reprogrammable memory and the additional memory locations of memory selectively coupled into the microprocessor operating circuit.
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Specification